Pollinator Safety1q45
MEMORANDUM
CITYOF
TO: Todd Hoffman, Parks and Recreation Director
CfIMEMSENFROM:
Jill Sinclair, Environmental Resources Specialist/f
7700 Market Boulevard
DATE: June 28, 2016
PO Box 147
Chanhassen, MN 55317
SUBJ: Pollinator Safety Proposed Resolution
Administration
Phone: 952.227.1100
Fax: 952.227.1110
BACKGROUND
Building Inspections
Pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and moths, are crucial components of our
Phone: 952.227.1180
environment and food supply. Pollination is required for a wide variety of fruits
q y
Fax. 952.227.1190
nuts, vegetables, animal forages, fiber crops, and native plants. Recently, research
Engineering
has shown that many of these insects are declining in number. The use of
Phone: 952.227.1160
pesticides in agriculture and of lack , es
landsca pollinator foragehabitat
p p g '
Fax952.227.1170
fragmentation, and exposure to pathogens and parasites are all factors in the loss
Finance
of pollinators. But organizations, governments, and communities across
Phone: 952.227.1140
Minnesota are making changes to help enhanceollinator habitats and reduce
p
Fax. 952.227.1110
pesticide exposure. Pollinator Safety Resolutions have been adopted by cities
Park & Recreation
such as Eden Prairie, St. Louis Park, and Duluth as well as state organizations
Phone: 952.227.1120
such as the Dept. of Agriculture and the Minnesota Board of Soil and Water
Fax: 952.227.1110
Resources.
Recreation Center
2310 Coulter Boulevard
Phone: 952.227.1400
Fax: 952.227.1404
Planning &
Natural Resources
Phone: 952.227.1130
Fax: 952.227.1110
Public Works
7901 Park Place
Phone: 952.227.1300
Fax: 952.227.1310
Senior Center
Phone: 952.227.1125
Fax: 952.227.1110
Website
www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us
Sandy Wagner and Bill Thompson are Chanhassen residents concerned with the
plight of pollinators in our community. Sandy approached the city to see if
Chanhassen could adopt a Pollinator Safety Resolution. She has been working
with me to draft a resolution and present, along with Bill, the issue to city
commissions. In May, she and Bill visited the Environmental Commission and
received positive feedback about the resolution. She and Bill are looking forward
to presenting the information to the Parks and Recreation Commission at their
June meeting.
ATTACHEMENTS
1. Resolution
Chanhassen is a Community for Life - Providing for Today and Planning for Tomorrow
CITY OF CHANHASSEN
CARVER AND HENNEPIN COUNTIES9 MINNESOTA
DATE: RESOLUTION NO: 2016 -
MOTION BY: SECONDED BY:
RESOLUTION ENDORSING POLLINATOR SAFE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
FOR THE CITY OF CHANHASSEN
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The purpose of this resolution is to recognize the importance of
bees and other pollinators to the farming of essential foods, including fruits, nuts and vegetables,
and to require the city of Chanhassen to implement more bee friendly policies such as increasing
the planting of pollinator friendly plants on city property and limiting the use of pesticides.
AVHEREAS, the City of Chanhassen is dedicated to the protection of pollinators and to
promoting a healthy natural environment through the reduction and elimination ofpesticides; and
WHEREAS, bees and other pollinators are integral to a wide diversity of essential foods
including fruits, nuts, and vegetables; and
WHEREAS, native bees and honey bees are threatened due to habitat loss,pesticide use,
pathogens and parasites; and
WHEREAS, recent research suggests that there is a link betweenpesticides that contain
neonicotinoids and the die -off of plant pollinators, including honey bees, native bees, butterflies,
moths, and other insects; and
WHEREAS, the use of neonicotinoid pesticides has been shown to poison birds as well
as aquatic organisms; and
WHEREAS, the Chanhassen City Council finds it is in thepublic interest to demonstrate
its commitment to a safe and healthy community environment through the implementation of
best management practices in the maintenance of the city parks, open spaces and city property.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the city of Chanhassen shall:
Become a pollinator -friendly city by undertaking best management practices in the use
of plantings and pesticides in all public places within the city.
2. Refrain from the purchase and use of systemic pesticides on City proverty to the extent
practicable, with emphasis on avoiding the use of pesticides from the neonicotinoid
family.
3. Undertake its best efforts to plant flowers favorable to bees and other pollinators o
in the
city's public spaces, with a preference for native species.
4. Identify actively maintained areas that could be converted back to native habitats that
include pollinator friendly plant species, including spaces that could be managed to
educate the public about pollinator -friendly practices.
5. Make best efforts to purchase plants that have not beengenetically engineered to have
herbicides or pesticides in their DNA
6. Communicate to City residents the importance of creating and maintaining a pollinator -
safe habitat
7. Designate Bee -Safe areas (list of parks) which feature pollinator -friendly plantings and
are free from systemic pesticides.
Passed and adopted by the Chanhassen City Council this 13th day of June, 2016.
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
Denny Laufenburger, Mayor
YES NO ABSENT